It really makes me sad that you feel that way.

When I go to see Springsteen up in Portland a week from this coming Friday, I'm really glad that I'll be going alone. I've let all of you know in the past of some of the many really damaged people that I met during my time when I used to run with Springsteen crowds back in the '80s and early '90s.
When I do meet people at the shows and the moment they tell me that like like Bruce and not really anybody else, that's when I run away from them as fast as I can. Between drunkards, child rapist, cat abuser drunkard who drives through Detroit area auto stamping plant at 55 mph people, thinking about killing Julianne Phillips people, selfish trade cocaine for copies of outtakes from board workers people, people faking to be friends of Springsteen and passing themselves off as such on telephone party lines, self-appointed censors of Springsteen fans for having the incorrrect opinions of them on their party line and magazine writers who put people into a squeeze in the press people, etc., I've had my fill. If a person proves to me that they like to talk about other artists and things in life and who don't require some kind of meds or psychiatrict attention, then I'm willing to let them hang out with me.

Backstreets.com is reporting that Dan Federici played on 3 songs at the Springsteen show in Indianapolis last night. There's no word on if this was a one-off or if this is going to become a frequent thing. I'm really keeping my fingers crossed that he's going to be returning and doing at least a few songs a night. I'd love to see him in Portland a week from tonight (plus, I hope Patti will be able to show up as well).
I guess Danny must be doing better than what one blogger had supposedly said when he told his audience that Dan's melanoma was bad enough that it was terminal.

Hello Everyone: Friday, May 2, 2008

This is a really incredible story of a sick man’s dreams coming true in quick fashion. There are many people to thank for making this happen. Without a doubt, God stepped in as well and played the major part by plucking at the heartstrings of those who saw compassion for this sick man.

Roger Rudder has been a customer of The Record Exchange and Plan 9 Music since I began managing the store in May of 1991. Several years ago he became ill. I’m not sure about all the details, but for at least the past three years he’s been in and out the hospital on numerous occasions and has had multiple surgeries. He even told me he has died once, but was resuscitated. At this point, he got a glimpse of the afterlife and what he saw gave him great peace.

I don’t know if Roger had come to Christ before or after this close call, but he’s now a child of God and gives God all the credit for keeping him alive as long as He has. Many of Roger’s organs are failing him, but he continues to live and breathe and share his testimony and the Gospel with anyone who will listen.

On Tuesday afternoon of this week, Roger came into the store and began to give me an update on happenings in his life. He was wearing a Bruce Springsteen T-shirt and told me that he had bought it at “The Boss’s” show the previous night in Greensboro. He went on to say that he only seen half that show and then had to be taken to the emergency room because he had fallen ill. After he left the ER, he arrived back at his truck to find that his 96-CD wallet had been stolen and most of the contents were Springsteen CDs, many of those being irreplaceable import CDs.

Roger continued that he also had tickets for the show in Charlotte, but he did not feel up to the long trip, so had made the tickets available for some friends to go. He said that he was going to go to the show in Charlottesville on Wednesday night and he was just praying that God would give him the strength to get through the next 36 hours to be able to see the show. This would be his 28th Springsteen show. I asked if he had ever met him, but Roger said he had not.

After the show, he said he was going to be admitted to UVA Hospital and put in a drug-induced coma to receive a blood transfusion, dialysis, and other procedures and tests. I thought he meant immediately after the show, but I learned it was the next day.

Roger bought five or six CDs that afternoon to replace a few that had been stolen. I went with him when he exited the store to the sidewalk and prayed for him and for God’s will regarding his health. I was in tears when I came back in the store.

Roger’s story stirred my emotions so much that I was moved to try to do something special for him. He had mentioned, with his declining health, that this would likely be his last concert. He said he had about given up the fight.

I then called Plan 9 Music’s marketing department at our corporate office in Richmond. I spoke with Deanna Savelle, the Marketing Assistant, and said I had a big, big, big favor to ask of her. I told her Roger’s story and asked her if she had any connections with the John Paul Jones arena in Charlottesville to where she may be able to arrange a short “meet and greet” with Bruce Springsteen. She said she had no ins there, but provided me the e-mail address of our company’s representative, Ann Heard, at Sony-BMG, Springsteen’s label.

I knew I was short on time, so I opted to try to find some phone numbers on the Internet. I found two New York City numbers, but did not speak to anyone directly. I left a message at Sony-BMG for someone to try to get me the phone number for Ann Heard.

So, with no other options left, I e-mailed Ann and explained the situation to her. The subject line was “URGENT – Springsteen Charlottesville Request”. I sent the e-mail off with a prayer that somehow, in the short time till the show, that a meet and greet could be arranged.

Looking back over the reply that was sent to me at 9:44 p.m. Tuesday night, Anne forwarded my message to Jay Schumer at Sony-BMG. This is what Jay said,

I don't see it happening but I passed along the request and we'll see
what happens. Obviously an ill person might be an exception, but in
general Bruce does very few meet and greet type things. I've been
backstage at a bunch of his shows and have still never met him!

Then Anne said in her reply,

I've sent your email to my contact at Columbia/Epic. Please see his
response below (above)-we will do everything possible to get the message to
Bruce. I will contact you if I hear anything at all. The biggest
constraint is the short turn around.
It is so great you are making the effort for your long time customer. I
hope this works out.

I read this above e-mails at 9:38 am on Wednesday, the day of the concert. It wasn’t looking good, but at least Ann had received my e-mail and the request was being sent around so I still had hope. I asked God again, to please somehow make this happen.

Wayne Lebeau (Sp?), from Columbia/Epic, then called my cell phone at 9:56 a.m. – 18 minutes later, introduced himself and said, “Let’s make this thing happen!” I started crying, thanked Wayne, and let him know how special this was going to be for Roger.
He said he would call me around 3 p.m. with further details.

After the call concluded, I fell straight to my knees with my head in my hands on the floor and said repeatedly through a stream of tears, “Thank YOU God, Thank YOU God,” over and over. I must have said this for what seemed like a 100 times, but it still could not be enough.

I kept myself reserved though since nothing had happened yet. I know things come up and although the meet and greet was in the works, it still may not happen. BUT, I had the faith that it would!

Wayne was true to his word and called me at Plan 9 Music right around 3 p.m. to let me know that Bruce Springsteen had been contacted directly and that he was willing and eager to meet with Roger and his party. The tears started to flow again as I thanked Wayne many times for his generosity and for coordinating this so quickly. He offered to call Roger to let him know the good news and details. Again, after the call, I fell to my knees in the back room of the store and thanked God repeatedly for his handiwork in making this happen.

Wayne then called me back and said he did not get a hold of Roger, but left him a voice mail. He encouraged me to try to follow up with him locally. Roger had said that he was planning on resting till he and his friends were going to leave for the show about 5:30 p.m. I hoped he had not left early, so I tried to call him. I too left a brief message letting him know an overview of how to get in touch with Wayne.

Roger then called back about five minutes later. His voice was weak, he said he had just got the messages, and wanted to know what was going on. I explained and he was in utter disbelief. He could not believe that I had done this for him, but I immediately shifted the responsibility to God. Roger concurred and we both gave God the glory for his role in what Roger called, “a miracle!”

I still was not sure if all this would happen, but again, things were looking even better and since I knew God’s hand was in this, I had the faith that the meet and greet was going to happen.

Fast-forward to Thursday morning…Roger comes into the store with a smile on his face from ear to ear. He had MET Bruce Springsteen – a true hero of his!! He was amazed and incredibly grateful. He told me that words could not express what this meant to him.

Roger said that Wayne had taken him and his three friends back to Springsteen’s dressing room after the show, closed the door behind them, and just the four of them got to talk with Bruce for 10 to 15 minutes. Roger said that Bruce was so nice. It was like he was talking to an old friend – someone he had known all his life. Bruce inquired about Roger’s health and encouraged him to “keep fighting the good fight.” Photos were taken and Bruce gave Roger a stack of CDs and a DVD and said, “I heard you had some CDs stolen out of your truck.” Roger’s friends could tell that he was weakening after all the evening’s activities and excitement and said we better get going. Bruce said his goodbyes to the guys and gave Roger a hug before they left the dressing room.

Roger told me he has been collecting sports and music memorabilia for many years and has had a chance to meet some famous people. He said many times these folks fail to live up to your expectations and can come off as uncaring and unaccommodating. Bruce, however, was genuine, interested, and welcoming. Roger said, “Adam, this was the highlight of my life!” And, the tears began to flow again.

Roger showed me the Springsteen Song Lyrics book that he had brought with him to sign. Springsteen signed it on this inside cover “To Roger” and even drew a guitar on the same page. Then, he presented Roger with the handwritten set list for that evening’s show as a keepsake. He also enthusiastically signed items for Roger’s three friends.

Roger had to get going. He was leaving for UVA Hospital at noon. I’m not sure if I’ll ever see him again, so I had my coworker Mandre’ snap two Polaroid’s of us – one for Roger and one for me. Roger certainly looks happy in the photo, with a big smile still on his face while proudly wearing his newly bought, black and white, concert T-shirt saying “BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN and the E STREET BAND 2008 Tour.”

I walked to the sidewalk again with Roger and with my arm around his shoulders and the sunlight shining on us, gave praise and thanks to God in prayer for making this “miracle” for Roger happen.

I’m just thrilled that this all came together for Roger and his friends. God definitely gets the glory for this and I’m also grateful for the compassion and cooperation that He so quickly put in place from Deanna Savelle, Ann Heard, Jay Schumer, Wayne Lebeau, and anyone else who may have had a hand in putting this all together.

And lastly, I want to wholeheartedly thank music icon Bruce Springsteen for the love and generosity that he extended to my long-time customer and his #1 fan, Roger Rudder. What a kind gesture from a truly wonderful person. May you be abundantly blessed Mr. Springsteen!

With faith and prayer, miracles can happen.

Praise be to God!

Adam

p.s. I have a biblical calendar on my desk and the scripture verse for the day of the concert, Wednesday, April 30, 2008, was from Matthew 5:16. Jesus says:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven.”

I tore this off on Thursday morning and brought it in to work with me to give to Roger.
He now has it in tucked in his autographed Springsteen Song Lyrics book along with the set list from the concert.

http://www.nme.com/news/bruce-springsteen/37815

Springsteen fortune teller passes away

Jul 2, 2008

The woman made famous in Bruce Springsteen’s song ‘4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)’ has died. She was in her mid-90s.

Madam Marie who told fortunes on the Asbury Park Boardwalk in New Jersey, gained worldwide notoriety after Springsteen name-checked her in the song with the lyrics “Did you hear, the cops finally busted Madam Marie for tellin' fortunes better than they do".

The psychic, who began giving readings in the 1930s, died on Friday (June 27), her great-grand daughter Sally Costello told the Associated Press.

Kind of makes you wonder what Big Balls Billy is up to these days.